DEREK
I’d never felt more nervous about knocking on a door in my life.
And that included negotiating with rival Alphas and walking into rogue territory with a barely-functioning truce.
This was worse.
Because this was Aiden.
Because I’d let him down.
Elena opened the front door of the Moonstone estate before I had a chance to knock twice. She looked like she hadn’t slept in a few days, but she was holding herself steady—shoulders squared, mouth neutral.
No warmth, no bite. Just controlled coolness.
“Hey,” I said.
She stepped aside. “He’s in the sunroom.”
I started to thank her, but her hand lightly touched my arm. I looked down to find her eyes locked on mine.
“You better fix it.”
I nodded. No excuses.
At the door of the room was a childishly written sign that said ‘NO ALPHAS
